I love, love this place. It's a quaint little churchey style templeThis is the best meditation…read moreplace. I just wish they had more evening meditations. the morning meditations start at 7am and that is just brutal, especially since it takes me a half hour to get there. Oh well, someday, maybe I will be able to make it. Otherwise, they have only 2 weeknight meditations. If you don't know about Trungpa Rinpoche check him out. He's one of my very favorites buddhists and his son, I believe, started the Shambala Centers. It could have been Trungpa, I'm really not certain. There's a great movie on Netflix about his life called, Crazy Wisdom. I have a hard time meditating at home, but the shambala center is so calm and peaceful, it's really easy to just sink down into a butt pillow and relax fully for an hour. It is free, by donation, or one can become a member.

From the owner: The Shambhala Meditation Center of Portland is part of the global community of Shambhala. Mediation…read moreprovides benefits to our sense of wellbeing, engagement with our minds, relationships, our society, nature and our world. Our vision is to create a culture of kindness and care, where our community connections support our spiritual path. Our programs, groups and community gatherings offer a way to study and practice teachings from the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. Please join us in this journey!

I took the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course at Pause Mediation.The studio itself is…read morebeautiful. In an old Portland brick building with amazing timber pillars and rafters. There are tall windows that let in a lot of natural light. I especially enjoyed getting there during dusk, when the crows outside were flying around discussing where the best place to roost for the night would be. Ryan Kenny is a compassionate, funny, and understanding instructor. It was suggested by my therapist to find this specific 8-week course. A friend of mine had been going to Pause Mediation classes for awhile, and had invited me several times, but I hadn't yet taken her up on her offer. The class is not easy, but it builds each week on practices. There are simple phrases and ideas that I remember that are very helpful in stressful situations. Being in the world today with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is so much to brood and worry about. Instead of obsessively reading the news and stewing in "what ifs?", I focus on what is right now. Right now my family (including my old parents) are healthy. I talk everyday to my brother and sister. I'm writing letters to other family members and friends. It has been a time for me to have the opportunity to slow down and that has helped with my practice. I am grateful for Ryan and his patient encouragement. If you are not ready to take the 8-week course, Pause Meditation offers many helpful classes, I've especially enjoyed the sound meditations and the aromatherapy.

Ryan and Raina really have it dialed in at Pause meditation. It's a beautiful space in downtown,…read moreeasy to get to, with a great vibe. They have a lot of meditation classes throughout the week that you can attend, even Saturday mornings. And they're also, from I hear, rolling out some corporate offerings, in line with corporate wellness. Ryan is even a local celebrity featured on the morning news in Portland. Not only is Ryan gifted at what he does and not only does he know how to cultivate community and make people feel welcome and connected, he is also deeply passionate about meditation and cultivating mindfulness. He lives and breathes what he teaches, walking his talk. Highly recommend Pause Meditation. You can't find a better meditation instructor in Portland!

Sarah truly cares about her clients and their well being. She is so kind and thoughtful and lovely…read moreto be around. This was the best reiki healing I have had. Sarah is truly gifted! Thank you so much!!

I recently had the opportunity to work with Sarah in a group setting and I am so grateful I did!…read moreThe group setting was peaceful and calm. Sarah also has an amazing singing voice! The space felt safe, relaxing and amazing, all at the same time! I was so excited when I found out Sarah offers reiki and tarot readings and sound healing as well! My next adventure will be to do all 3! I highly recommend Sarah for all your spiritual high vibe needs in the Portland metro area!!!!!

A place of peace,prayer and natural beauty place for all religions every one is welcome hereread more

I really wish I had more time here. This was one of the very last places to visited before I had to…read morefly home. I got here late about 30mins before closing so I only walked around for a little. It's so Beautiful, peaceful, & calm here. The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary founded in 1924. There are so many beautifully carved statues. All the statues are made from marble, granite, bronze, wood, polyester resin and fiberglass. On their webpage, The Grotto's Vision is To forever be a place where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother embraces and supports people of all cultures and all faiths who seek a place of prayer and meditation; The Grotto values the dignity of everyone. I'll definitely come back here the next time I'm in town so I can spend a bit more time exploring. There's a decent sized parking lot. It was empty as I got here close to closing but I'm sure it gets very busy here.

My friend and I stopped in to put in some prayers. She's not Buddhist but is always opened to…read morelearning about new beliefs, philosophies, and any methods that encourage more happiness. Although I cannot declare myself as someone who is devoted to practicing Buddhism, I certainly believe the traditions and spiritual practices. We were welcomed by monks upon arrival and while both spoke limited English -- they gladly provided a quick tour of the temple before allowing us to walk around on our own. The photos do not provide any justice to the temple. The grand room in the back of the house is so stunning with vaulted ceilings with gold plaques of other Buddhas covering the walls. There are small scriptures places by some of the Buddha statues to help provide visitors some context to the role the Buddha holds. One of my friends purchased a candle ($30) and wrote her entire family's names on a red piece of paper to stick on to the candle. She lit the candle and walked it to the Buddha in the back room and prayed -- asking if blessings, good health, and good luck would be granted for her entire family. This was a recommendation from one of the monks so she walked my friend through the entire process. It was pretty cool to shadow her and learn more about the power of prayer. Masks are required while inside but please do yourself a favor -- make a trip out there to find some time to meditate, pray, or to just simply learn more about Buddhism. Hands down -- enjoyed our visit all around.

Even thought it's one day after the CNY, I was determined to go to a temple to pray for some peace…read moreand good fortune for 2020! It's my second time here. I liked it better than the one in SE. it's small and cozy, staff were friendly and very relaxed. I got to pray to all god I came to see, and I walked away lighting two candles for spirtual guiding (光明燈) for myself and ones I love. That's all I want and need! So this is how you do it: - Enter the hall and grab a few incense (like 5). - light them up by the candle area. Wave it back and forward to put out the fire when all are lit. - walk to the main hall and talk to the goddess/Buddha. Then put one incense in the main burner. If you'd like, you can contribute some money in the donation box. - walk behind the wall and you'll see god of mercy 觀音. Go pray and put one incense in the burner. - walk back to the entrance. Pray to earth and put 3 insence in the big burner. - now you can walk all the way back to the main hall. You'll have to take off your shoes, and you can't bring the incense. So just pray wIth your hands, palms close. Also, you can find your fortune by picking a bamboo stick with its matching paper card. That's it and there's nothing to it. I hope everyone will have a healthy, lucky and prosperous 20220!

Yoga Refuge is our favorite yoga studio in Portland. Great teachers, beautiful…read moretemperature-controlled space with plants and lots of windows, and accessible and inclusive of people of all levels of experience and abilities. I started going here initially for the pre-natal yoga classes and loved it so much that I encouraged my husband to take classes here as well. Now we're regulars. I recommend: - Gentle Yoga classes with Birdie, Alison, Sascha, or Kat for beginners or to offset more intense classes - Vinyasa Flow classes with Birdie - fun, creative flows that feel well choreographed with great music. It's a more advanced class - Core Strengthening classes with Kat - fun for increasing your strength and fitness. Kat pushes you hard infuses her classes with humor and a sense of play - Hatha Yoga with Danielle - accessible and good for learning alignment ; lots of workshopping and instruction

I really appreciate the lovely space and welcoming community they've created. I have noticed,…read morethough, that there seem to be fewer experienced teachers offering classic Hatha or Vinyasa classes than when I first joined. I enjoy other forms of movement and dance, but they aren't what I'm expecting when I schedule a yoga class, and it can be disappointing when the class description doesn't match the actual format. Wednesday night Vinyasa with Birdie is excellent, and I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so--her classes are often waitlisted. Would it be possible to offer more classes in that style, or more opportunities to practice with Birdie?

Finally an inclusive yoga studio. This is a place that unashamedly embraces and accommodates people…read morelike me, who are size 12 and not size two. Real yoga for actual human beings, some of whom are thin white girls, but not all. From the moment I entered the bamboo walled studio I felt safe and yummy. I Noted the soothing piano arpeggios,and sat on the free, comfortable yoga mats. There were props a go go to sit on, including blankets, blocks, wedge shaped blocks, bolsters both round and rectangular, and best of all: Eye pillows and sand weights for your ankles or abdomen. This is real restorative yoga, not what is advertised by other studios as "restorative" or "yin." The place is quiet, with no external noises, and only six or so yoga students. This means individual attention and individual attention. This is a hands on, prop intensive place that is authentically in touch with yoga philosophy and its roots in the yoga sutras.

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Traveling from Philly. Perfect way to end my full last…read moreday here. Tony's class was great! Super relaxed space. Zero pretension. Everyone is extremely nice. Wish we had a studio like this near me.

This Theravada Buddhist, 'Insight' meditation community has gone through lots of changes in the…read morelast 18 months which is great to see. It is a very active Sangha (community) led group with both resident and visiting teachers from around the country who provide a variable teaching style while focused deeply on Dharma practice. They offer a bunch of different classes and on-site retreats and occasional social events. I found that the best way to see if this community was a good fit was to attend their Sunday program 10am-noon with a social hour following their service. (and there is no financial corruption or f. mismanagement which was suggested in a previous comment.). In Portland, we are so fortunate to have several other great Buddhist communities with very good teachers for practice.

Amazing place! Going through big changes! So many old…read morereviews and stories that do not reflect what is going on right now -be sure to check it out -a place of peace and acceptance